Four and a half months later…

~
Lex entered the cafe, taking off the sunglasses as she looked around. Shortly after Saffron's change had finished, she’d changed as well. And shortly after that, she took off from the offices with a little help. She was determind to find him.

And she was pretty sure she had.

 It took her a moment, considering she'd been looking for blue hair, to spot him in the far corner. She took in the short, bleached hair and raised an eyebrow, but took a breath and headed for the table. "You're a hard man to find." Lex said, once she reached the table. She'd dressed inconspicuously in jeans and a t-shirt with a short denium jacket, her red hair in a pony tail.

Matt didn't look up from his paper at the voice. "Wrong table, chippie... fuck off." he growled softly, continuing to scan the paper. He wasn't concerned with anyone finding him since he'd done what he could to vanish from the companies radar. He'd had his house listed as sold under a different name and had his phone numbers all changed, again under a new name. He'd planned on going ahead with selling the house and just leaving completely, but in the end he found he just couldn't leave it..

"Hardly." Lex said, grabbing the other chair and sitting down. "I haven't spent the last three months, Matt Hogan, looking for you to have you blow me off." She added, dropping her messanger bag beside her chair.

Matt looked up at hearing his name and froze as he spotted her. For a moment he just stared. "Lex?" he asked softly in surprise. His heart suddenly began hammering in his chest and he shot to his feet, grabbing his jacket off the back of the chair. "Fuck off, kid." he growled as he fumbled in his wallet for money to pay his bill. "Just fuck off."

Lex's eyes flashed, and a flame lept to her finger tips of the hand hidden behind the other. "You could do me the fucking curtosy of hearing me out. Either that or I set your ass on fire and walk out of here. And believe me, I'd make sure it couldn’t be put out!" Lex hissed, in no mood to play games. She wasn't quite the submissive fire elemental she'd been before...

Matt tossed the cash onto the counter and turned to face her, leaning close. "I left you and your family behind for a reason, Lex. I don't want to know anything about any of you. I don’t want any of you fucking looking for me.I was hard to find because I don't want to be fucking found." he growled. "You want to burn me.. go the fuck ahead. Because I'm leaving."

Lex simply followed, getting up, her messanger bag on her shoulder. She caught him by the shoulder with her free hand, the flame gone, before hissing. "I know. I know what happened. Saffron told me before they had her committed. And she's pregnant with your child and they're determined to take it away once it's born. They've already tried once, she killed the doctor who tried to do the abortion."

Matt stumbled and leaned back against the counter. "Commited? They ... why the fuck did they commit him... her?" he asked softly, then shook his head slightly."Oh fuck... fuck...No… I don’t want to know this shit. Get the fuck out of here." he snapped before pushing away from the counter towards the door,  the few other customers glancing his way.

Lex followed, but waited until they reached outside, to continue. "Why? Because she lost it when she found out you'd left...No one could figure out why that should have made such an impact on her, but she'd just been told she was pregnant, when she asked where you were. And Regan told her you were gone; that you didn't give a fuck. She was commited, because she was a threat to herself. So it was suggested they abort the baby...she wouldn't have that..."

Matt clenched his jaw in frustrated rage, his eyes burning. He didn't wnat to hear this. He didn’t want to know this. Finally he spun, grabbing Lex by her jacket and shoving her up against the store front behind her. "Look.. you don’t fucking get it, do you?" he growled. "I raped him. I fucking raped him. ME. Yeah… the spell started it... but I didn't really fight all that hard." he growled softly. "I raped your brother, Lex.. and I fucking enjoyed doing it. That’s why I left. If he's so...." he drew a breath. " If SHE'S so fucked up that she actually wants someone who'd do that to her around... then maybe she's right where she belongs." he said, then let go of her and turned. "Now fuck off."

"Oh I get it, Graves, better then you do." Lex snapped back, removing a photo of the current Saffron from her messenger bag. The photo was heart breaking, Saffron's expression sad and distant, not even looking at the camera. Lex grabbed Matt's shoulder, turning him around enough, and tucked the photo in his shirt pocket. "What you don't fucking get is, is that she never blamed you. She's never held you accountable, because she was in love with you! She never wanted you to marry Regan!"

Matt snorted softly, then laughed darkly. "She never held me accountable." he repeated then let out a breath. "Look, kid." he said softly, his voice hard but quieter then before. "None of this matters. Doesn't matter how ... she.. felt about me before. I raped her, Lex. I hurt her. I knew I was hurting her. I told her I enjoyed doing it. And yet she's still caught up in  this fucking fantasy... Let the doctors do her some good.. maybe they'll get her head straightened out. Tell her to forget about the... tell her to get rid of it. Tell her I told her to get rid of it. Nothing from me could ever do anything but fucking hurt her anyhow." he said. "Now get the fuck out of here... Aren't you supposed to be under guard?"

Lex's eyes flashed again, and she slapped him. "You're still fucking hurting her! And on top of that, it sounds like you're the one who needs to be committed! You gave it all up for a pity trip! And because you're too stuck on YOU, my sister is probably going to spend the rest of her life in a mental institution! God damn you, Matt Hogan. God damn you to Hell!"

"I'm already there." Matt growled softly as he  pulled his jacket on and got on his bike. "Just what the fuck did you expect here, Lex" he asked as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his sunglasses, his fingers brushing over the photo as he did. "Huh? Did you expect me to be all weepy with joy that you found me and go running back with you? Did it not fucking dawn on you that if I was that hard to find it might be because I didn't want to BE found? And did it occur to you in the fucking slightest… that when everyone finds out it was me... I'm history?"

"I thought, perhaps given that Saffron was supposed to have been your best friend, that you'd have given a damn at least! Instead, you're too busy punishing yourself...and Saffron. I knew you were an asshole, Hogan, but you've reached a new limit." Lex said, before turning and walking away, back toward her car. She had the insane urge to kick his ass.

Matt watched her go, his heart feeling like it was tearing in two. "Fuck... What hospital?" he called after her. He couldn't believe this. He'd left to keep her safe from him as much as out of shame and anger... "What fucking hospital?"

"Fairview. Upstate. Private hospital." Lex answered with out looking back. She just headed for the car, getting in and starting the car, but she allowed herself a small smile, considering he asked what hospital...

Matt pulled the bike around and cut Lex off before she could pull out. He sat beside her for a moment, ignoring the angry honking he’d inspired by his move. "If I phone... will they let me talk to her?" he asked simply.

Lex sighed softly. "She can talk or see any one she wants. They're just not going to let her out." Lex replied, looking at him as she put her sun glasses on.

"Why not?" he asked, casually flipping off a driver who yelled at him to move. "Why won’t they let her out, Lex? If she wants this... baby.. so bad, she's not going to hurt herself, is she?"

Lex sighed, leaning back in the drivers seat. "No, I don't believe she would. She's determined to have the baby... It's a combination of her refusing to talk about what happened, and them thinking she's too unstable. I'm afraid they're looking for something to their advantage that when the baby's born, they'll take it away..." Lex said softly.

He just sat there for a moment thinking as he looked at her before he finally asked."What am I supposed to do, Lex?" he asked simply. "Tell me what it is you expect me to do. Because I have no fucking clue."

Lex lowered the sunglasses enough to look at him. "Do you care anything at all about Saffron?" She asked softly. "If you do... go talk to her...please. You haven't seen her in that place...she isn't the same...she hasn't been the same since we told her you left. You left and it was like a part of her died."

Matt closed his eyes and swore softly. "Get the fuck out of here before some asshole tries to kidnap you." he growled softly before glancing around and cutting back across to the right side of the street amid another blare of horns.

Lex snorted softly, watching him leave, before leaving the parking lot. Sure, she'd get into a shit load of trouble when she got back to the offices, but she was hoping this had been worth the trouble.

~~

Matt sat on his bike and stared up at the building wondering if he had the courage to do this. He'd picked up the phone over a dozen times with out having the guts to dial... and half a dozen more that he dialed then hung up before anyone answered. Once he'd managed to let someone answer and had asked to speak to Saffron… then hung up before the woman could say anything. It had taken him three days before he could even bring himself to look at the photo Lex had stuck in his pocket... and yet here he sat outside the hospital trying to get the guts to go inside. Taking a deep breath, he got off the bike and headed towards the door, feeling incredibly self conscious in his biker leathers, with the short white hair showing off his fae ears... part of him wondered if Saffron would even know him.

There was a small, richly decorated courtyard, in the middle of the buildings, since they formed a square. Saffron liked to sit out there, because most of the other patients didn't venture outside, and when the weather was nice, it was peaceful. She was sitting on a bench, under a willow tree, reading a book, one hand on her stomach. The one doctor tried to tell her family that she was mentally unstable and a threat to herself and the unborn child, but Saffron had just been good at making the doctor think that. And while she hated the place, it was better then being stuck in the offices, forced with questions and suggestions that she shouldn't have the baby.

Matt had started to walk away twice before a nurse opened the door and gave him a slight smirk. "If it's that hard... you should probably just get it over with. I could have security drag you inside if it would help?" she said.

Matt snorted and plucked his sunglasses off, folding them and slipping them into his pocket. "Tempting." he said softly, wondering if it showed on his face how ill he felt right then.

 "Who are you here to see?" she asked and Matt drew a breath before making himself say it.

"Saffron. Saffron Azreal.. or.. it might be Mordant.. suppose it depends on who.. signed the papers..."

Matt gave the nurse his name and signed in at the desk, then she showed him to door that lead out to a garden. He stood there for a moment after she left before finally getting the nerve to open it and walk through. As soon as he saw her he froze and just stared at her, still struggling to believe that it was true.. that the Saffron he'd known had changed into a girl... a girl that was pregnant with his kid. Taking another deep breath he summoned his courage. "Hey."

Saffron had been caught up in the book, she hadn't sensed him coming into the garden. Not until he spoke was she aware of any one, and she looked up, her eyes innocently wide, and only widened as she looked at him for a moment. They had a bit of a dress code, so Saffron was wearing a short maternity sundress, her hair loose. Her eyes widened a little more with surprise. "Matt?" She dropped her book, getting to her feet.

Matt slipped his hands into his pockets and droped his gaze, unable to look at her without it hurting. "Yeah." he said softly. "Lex came to see me... she told me...." he trailed off, not sure what it was he wanted to say or should say. "How are you feeling?"

Saffron bit her lip, still standing by the bench. She didn't make a move to retrieve her book. "Well they've stopped trying to shove medication down my throat, so I suppose that's one thing...but...trapped is a good way discribe it..." She said softly, before getting up her courage and moved toward him slowly. She looked him over, just having missed the sight of him. "Did she tell you everything..? Though I suppose you can figure it out...considering the way I look..."

Matt smirked softly as he watched her feet approach. "Yeah." he said softly. "What the fuck are you doing, kid?" he asked. "Why are you doing this? Why didn't you... get rid of it when you still could've?”

Saffron bristled, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're going to ask the same damned thing everyone else did?! Because I want to, that's why!" She replied sharply. "It's my bloody choice! It's my baby!" She added, before turning and going back toward the bench. "It doesn't matter, how it happened, Matt. But it happened, and I'm damn sure glad it was you, and not some one else!" She added, her back to Matt, trying to fight back the tears. She was quiet a moment, before adding, "It's a boy."

Matt looked up at her and watched her as he spoke. "But this is what she wanted." he said. "The whole thing... the trap, the spells… making me rape you... it was all so you would have this baby! And you're doing it! You’re giving her what she wanted!" he said softly. "You're letting her fucking win..."

"No, what she intended to do, what she wanted, was to take me once I was pregnant and  turn the baby over to some one else. I ran into her before I was put in here and she wasn't happy that she couldn't get her hands on me." Saffron said. "And I don't give a fuck what she wants! *I* want this, and I've never been allowed to have anything I want!"

"So what's stopping her from getting the kid once it's born?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest. "You won’t be able to protect it... they're taking it away from you as soon as it's born. And I doubt your family will want to raise it so it'll probably be put up for adoption."

Saffron was quiet for a long moment, "Well then she'll have won, and there'll be no reason for me to leave here, because I won’t have any thing worth living for out there. " She said softly, the pain evident in her tone. It wouldn't stop her from fighting when the time came, but it was doubtful she'd win with everyone against her. She turned, going back to sit down on the bench. "If I can't have you, Matt, then at least allow me this." She said added more softly, bending to pick up her book.

Matt watched her for a moment before walking closer. He squatted down infront of her. "You're not getting out of here, Saffron. You're not getting out... and they'll never let you keep the kid here.... so what are you doing?" he asked softly. "Lex said you're here because I left... So what? If I stay you'll suddenly get better and they'll let you out? Then what? Sooner or later everyone will know I was the one... how long do you think your family and friends will let me live after that..?"

Saffron looked up at him, her eyes flashing. "Is this all about you?! They could care less about you; you wanted them to forget about you, they did! The only reason Lex looked you up...was because of me. Hell, they're too busy planning Regan's new wedding. And I'm not as crazy as everyone thinks I am!"

Matt sighed snd stood up. "Never mind, kid. Forget it. You don’t fucking understand do you?" he asked. "Do you have any clue what it takes to kill someone like me? Do you know how much I can survive? Your family forgot me because I was just some jerk ex fiance who took off. When it comes out that I'm also the man who raped, knocked up and put you in the fucking looney bin... they'll remember me." Matt sighed and paced across the place between benches. "But... I don’t really care about that. They want to torture me to death... fine. It's not like I don’t fucking deserve it, is it?" he asked then sighed and sank down on another bench. "I'm sorry for all of this, Saff... I wish there was something I could do to take it all back.. or at least... at least help."

Saffron was quiet for a moment. "Did Lex tell you the truth? Did you know I was in love with you...since we met?" She asked softly, then snorted. "But no, that doesn't matter to you...all you can see is what you want to see to see; that you raped me. It doesn't matter to you that I forgave you...for everything...INCLUDING enjoying it." She hissed, before getting off the bench, moving toward the small pond and waterfall. "You're a selfish bastard, Matt. But whether you like it or not, the child I'm carrying is yours as much as mine!"

Matt dropped his head and ran his hands through the short white hair. "I know that...I..." he sighed heavily. "And maybe it's not about you forgiving me... maybe it's about me not being able to forgive myself." he admitted, staring at the ground. "I... I always felt more for you than I should have, Saff.  But I fought it so fucking hard... You were a guy and I was not into guys. When you introduced me to Reagan and we hit it off I... I gues I tried extra hard to make it work to prove to myself I wasn't into guys and that you were just my friend. But when she had me in that spell... I knew the truth. It never should've mattered ; guy or girl... I still loved you. I still wanted you. But I was marrying your sister to avoid that. And when I finally had you... it was .. wrong."

Saffron ran her fingers over the petals of a rose, beside the small pound, quiet a moment, before she turned back to face him. "I was glad it was you, Matt. More then any one else, if it had to happen, then I was a glad it was you." She said softly, moving back toward the bench.

Matt swallowed hard and closed his eyes against the welling of tears. "Me too." he whispered softly. "Gods help me... me too." he opened his eyes and let the tears drip to the ground before wiping his face. "So... what now...?"

"Well I suppose that depends..." Saffron said softly, sitting back down on the bench. "Jeff is getting me out of here, with out telling the rest of my family. I doubt I'll go back to the offices...I can't take that...So I'll go some where, but the rest depends on you..."

Matt continued to stare at the ground by his feet. "Alright... so... what do you need from me?" he asked softly.

Saffron sighed deeply, shaking her head, her hair falling in her face as she looked down toward the flowers beside her. "All I ever wanted, Matt, was for you to be there..." She replied softly.

Matt looked up at her at that. "So... you want to come live with me then?" he asked softly. "I still have the church, it's just under a differnt name." he said softly. "Could get you a fake ID.. a good one.. Get married, raise the kid there..." he said, his gaze going back to the ground.

Saffron looked up at Matt, brushing the hair back from her face before sighing softly and getting up from the bench to move to the one Matt was sitting on. She sat down beside him. "Well again...that depends on you...depends on how you feel about me..."

Matt closed his eyes as he stayed where he was, leaning forward, his elbows on his knees and his hands laced together. "I told you that." he said softly. "If you want to come live with me once Jeff gets you out of here... I'll go home and get the place ready for you. Let me know your sizes and shit and I can get you some clothes and stuff too." he said softly.

Saffron hesitated a moment, before reaching out, caressing his cheek for a moment, before turning his face toward her, raising her other hand to cup his face. "It'll never work, Matt, if you can't accept that I've forgiven you and find a way to forgive yourself. Don't do this because you feel you have to...I won’t put our baby through that..."

Matt looked at her and closed his eyes turning his face into her hand to kiss it softly. " I do want this... " he said quietly. "And my wanting it scares the shit out of me." he admited then sighed and sat up. "I won't lie to you, Saff... It's going to be hard ... I can't forget it. I keep seeing you look up at me, begging me  not to... "

Saffron snorted softly, but leaned forward, kissing him on the forehead. "Then I should be honest. Had the circumstances been different, and some where else, I probably would have wanted you to do it..." She said softly, letting go of him.

Mat closed his eyes and just sat there for a moment before hesitantly reaching out to take her hand. He let it lay in his palm for a moment, his thumb rubbing over the backs f her fingers softly as he looked at it. "You don't look so different... Not like you'd think ... you still... you still look like you." he said quietly.

Saffron snorted softly. "There wasn't all that much that had to happen for the change to finish...It was a physical glamour from the Seal...internally, I was already a girl..." She said softly, blushing.

Matt snorted softly. "Yeah .. kinda got that by the whole baby thing you've got going on here, kid.." he said with a soft smirk. He was wonderng if he could really do this. Here he was suggesting she come live with him and and everything and he hadn't even managed to look her in the eye for very long. "This is ... I'll try..." he whispered softly.

"Just remember Matt... I forgave you that night..." Saffron said softly, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. She felt she had to be honest though. "The only...real time you hurt me that night...was walking away."

Matt closed his eyes tightly at that. "I hurt you more than that, Saff... I saw the blood..." he said softly. "I... " he shook his head, letting the thought die because he had no idea how to put it into words.

Saffron sighed, deciding to leave it at that. Until he was ready to hear he, he wasn't going to. She winced slightly, as the baby kicked. "Some one disagrees with you..." She said softly, before placing his hand on her belly as the baby continued to kick.

Matt froze as Saffron pressed his hand against her; afraid to leave it there and afraid to pull it away... then he felt the soft thump against his hand. "Oh ... holy fuck.." he whispered softly, his eyes starting to water as it all suddenly became completely real. He stayed there a moment longer then pulled his hand away and stood up. "I...uh... I shoud go. I.." he reached into his pockets and searched a moment befroe he pulled out a slip of paper. "This is my number... give it to Jeff so he can let me know when you'll be coming..."

Saffron sighed softly, but took the slip of paper, before standing. "I will..." She said softly, looking up at him. She reached up, touching his cheek again. "Matt... I've missed you..." She said softly.

Matt looked down at her, still trying to get used to the idea that he didn't have to be so careful; that Saffron didn't have to be just his best friend anymore. He caught her hand and let it brush over his lips before kissng it softly. "I've mised you too, Saff." he said softly, then before he could change his mind he pulled her into a gentle hug. "I'll see you again soon..." he added before kissing her cheek lightly as he let go. He was blushing as he headed for the door back inside.

Saffron watched him go, before carefully tucking the slip of paper into her book. She'd no doubt see Jeff later that day. She sat back down on the bench, thinking she'd have to thank Lex later on for finding Matt..

~

Matt  went over a check list in his head as he worked, rubbing the oil into the wooden leg of the old highchair. The basement renovation was complete with just the two smaller bedrooms needing to be decorated, and the new bathroom and bedroom down there were furnished and outfitted. He'd moved his little makeshift gym back down to the new rec room, and took over the one unfinished rooms as storage for most of the rest.

 Plus the house had been cleaned top to bottom, and  the yard work finished thanks to charity week at the local high school... he'd just made a donation to their drive and tada... a group of willing workers.

He sat back on his heels for a moment and looked over his handy work. He'd found all Marilee's old baby stuff in the basement and had hauled it outside to work on. He'd stripped off all the paint and resanded and was just using a linseed oil to bring out the dark grains. No doubt they'd wind up repainting if they kept this, but it had kept him busy. He'd been up to visit Saffron a couple times in the last two weeks and they'd spoke on the phone a few more and now that it was happening he was getting rather excited about having her here. He was still nervous, though.

Matt zipped up the old mesh sided dining tent he'd nabbed at a yard sale a week ago, sealing his work inside and away from from the bugs and critters so it could dry, then headed inside. The kitchen smelled of coffee and he had to make himself keep going to go wash up and  get changed. Saffron was due this afternoon, probably any time. He still couldn't look at his reflection for very long, but he wasn't sure how much of that was the hair and ears and how much was still his feelings about himself. Saffron had never commented on his hair and a part of him wondered why. She'd told him before that she'd loved the length and the blue... maybe she hated it short and white and just didn't want to hurt his feelings... He snorted at that smirking softly, and headed out to the kitchen for a coffee.

A short time later Matt found himself standing at the foot of the bed in the loft bedroom, looking at the stuffed zombie doll sitting in the middle of the bed. With a sigh he picked it up and looked around, wondering if he should wrap it instead. He couldn't decide where to put the roses he'd got her either... should he leave them in a vase on the dresser? In the kitchen? With a sigh he left them on the dresser then placed the doll back on the bed. He knew he was just nervous. Everything looked fine. Everything WAS fine. Clean, in place, moved.. everything that needed to be done had been done. With one exception.. but that could wait a bit longer. With another sigh, he turned and headed down stairs to wait for her, wondering if he should go outside or stay in...


~ ~

It was Jeff who checked her out, she was techincally being checked out to Jeff's care, was how he'd arranged it. "You're not going to be showing up, every week are you?" Saffron asked as he drove.

 Jeff snorted softly, taking a drag off his cigarette, leaning toward his window. "Am I going to have to?" He asked, glancing her.

"I don't know..." She answered. He was driving her to Matt's. As agreed, all her family knew, was that Saffron was going to stay with a friend for awhile, and that Jeff would keep a close eye on her. They weren't happy, but they didn't object either...

"Listen, Saffron." Jeff said as he made a turn, leading out toward Matt's place. "You have my emergency number...don't hesitate to call me, if you need to." He added.

Saffron snorted softly, watching the scenery. "I'll keep that in mind, Jeff. But this is something I've got to try at anyway..." She replied softly. "You understand..." She added, glancing at Jeff, who snorted softly.

 "Yeah...I do...both sides." He replied, with out looking at her.

"Was it like this...with Cerise?" Saffron asked softly.

Jeff was quiet for a long moment, then nodded. "Very similiar, yes...do I still regret it? Some times, but then, I don't regret having a daughter." He said, before pulling into the drive way of the church. "If you want it to work, Saffron, you'll make it work." He said putting the car in park and looking at her over the sunglasses.

~ ~

Matt was sitting on the couch, his arms braced on his knees, rubbing his fingers together idly as he half listened to the radio. His head shot up at the sound of a car in the lane and he swallowed hard, suddenly queasy. Taking a deep careful breath, he got to his feet and headed for the door, rubbing his hands off on his jeans as he went. He stood in the open door for a moment, looking at the unfamiliar car, but feeling Saffron's presence inside it, then made himself head down the steps to met her.

Ever the gentleman, which was something of a joke to any one who knew Jeff, Jeff got out and went around to the passenger's side, opening the door, and cast a glance back at the door of the church when Matt came out. "Nice place." He told him, as he held out a hand to Saffron. She snorted softly, but accepted Jeff's hand, getting out of the car. Jeff let go of her hand, closing the door and headed around to the trunk, staying out of the way. Saffron turned toward Matt.

"Thanks." Matt said in reply, his eyes going back to Saffron. He came to a stop then  smiled a tad shyly. "Welcome home." he said softly, hesitating only a moment before hugging her gently. "I've had whole teams of slave labor out here working for the past couple weeks to get the place ready for you." he said with a light smirk.

"As if you really needed to go through the trouble." Saffron replied with a soft smile. "But thank you." She added. She leaned up, laying a brush of a kiss on his cheek, nothing more.

Jeff brought her bag from the trunk, sitting it down beside her. "Now, I told your parents," He said to Saffron. "To get a hold of me, if they needed to talk to you."

Saffron nodded. "Thank you, Jeff. Really."

"Actually... if it's a problem... They can call her here. The number's listed to  M. Cavallaro. I screen the calls anyhow. Or she can use my cell if she doesn't want them backtracking for a address..." Matt offered, still blushing slightly from the kiss on his cheek. He kept his hand resting lightly on her back as they faced Jeff, trying to make himself comfortable. He'd managed to get used to the idea of her being a 'her' now, but he was still having trouble feeling comfortable with the idea of being more then the friends they'd been. He wanted more he.. he just thought he needed to get over things first.

"Nah, this is a much easier way to do it. This ways she knows what they want, before they call her." Jeff said, leaning against the car. "As far as the hospital and the state are concerned, she was released under my care. And as far as her family knows, she's staying with a friend. They weren't happy, but they'll deal with it."

"Cool. Whatever works. I figure they'll know I'm still here sooner or later... The paper work and bills are all under a different name, but everyone in town knows me, so it's not like I'm impossible to find. You just have to come here." he said with a smirk "Thanks for helping her out, Jeff. Really." he added softly.

"You're welcome. And I think you're safe for the main part...I know how to work these kinds of things." He said with a wink.

Saffron snorted softly with a faint smirk. "They're too busy right now to bother anyway." She replied.

Jeff shook his head. "Unfortunately, and I... have to attend. Rue's not giving me any choice..."

Matt frowned for a minute then smirked. "Oh yeah... the wedding… You never did tell me who she's marrying. Kinda fast considering she was ready to marry me not even five months ago..." he said with a soft snort. "This a rebound thing or do you think its the real deal?"

"Well I only think it's so fast, because she doesn't want to take the chance of this one running off...But whether or not it's the real deal, we'll just have to wait and see..." Saffron said softly.

She glanced at Jeff, who just shrugged. "I never asked. None of my business..." He replied.

Matt snorted then  moved away from Saffron to pick up her bag. "Well.. coffee's ready if you're interested. You coming in, Jeff?" he asked. "Hell of a long drive to just head back without so much as a coffee..."

"I would, but I've got to make another couple stops anyway...No rest for the wicked." Jeff said, heading back around to the driver's side, getting in. Saffron gave him a wave, before moving out of the way of the car.

Matt watched the car pull out and head back down the lane to the road then turned a soft smile to Saffron. "Well... like I said... welcome home." he said quietly. "Umm.. do you want to get settled in first then have me show you around or...?" he let his question trail off, suddenly feeling that queasy nervousness about being alone with her.

Saffron looked up at him, watching him a moment, before replyng. "Well I don't care what I do first, but standing out here like this, Matt, isn't exactly settling in...so how bout we go inside?"

Matt blushed even more but smirked and let his hand slip back to the small of her back as he ushered her inside. "I um... I put you in the loft. The stairs are easier to climb then the basement ones and there's more room and light... If you start finding it hard to climb, I'll clear out my office and move you onto the main floor.." he said simply as he shut the door behind them and lead her into the sanctuary. His furniture was a mix of old and new; Marilee's left overs and his own finds. The room was large and open and, despite the darker colours, and 'personal touches'... warm and inviting. He set her bag on the foot of the wide staircase. “Kitchen's straight through..."

Saffron looked around, some how surpised she'd never sat foot here before, but quickly got over that. "Right...I'll take my bag up there later..." She said softly. "Thank you." She added.

"Bathroom and my office are over there.. bathooms the door on the right." he said as they crossed the room. "That leads to the basement...  I've got some exercise equipment set up in the rec room down there, plus there's another bathroom and three bedrooms..well.. one bedroom and two possible bedrooms to be." he said with a smirk. "One's storage right now...." he said as he shoved the door to the kitchen open and showed her inside. He pulled out a chair for her then blushed even more. "Sorry... I just... I know I'm awkward as hell right now, just.. I'll be okay. " he said with a soft smile.

Saffron sat down, but looked up at him. "I hope so..." She said softly. "I know this is...strange...but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else today..." She said softly.

"Just today?" he asked with a soft smirk then turned to the counter. "Coffee? Or would you rather have something else...? I just went shopping yesterday... I didn't know what to get. I've got orange juice, milk, tea... and .. well.. I've got a shit load of stuff. Think I should be able to cover just all of your cravings and shit with very little trouble.." he said with a soft chuckle. "Are you hungry? "

"Anywhere else, period," Saffron replied softly, before rolling her eyes. "Matt, coffee's fine." She added, watching him. "I'm not hungry, yet." She added. "And I don't know...what I'm craving you probably didn't even think of, so we'll leave that, at that."

Matt poured two cups of coffee and turned, setting one in front of her before sitting down in the chair kittycorner to her. "Tell me. If I don’t have it.. I'll get it." he said simply.

Saffron wrapped her hands around the coffee cup and looked at him a moment, before smiling slightly playfully. "Strawberries, anything with strawberries, perferablly strawberry ice cream."

Matt smirked softly. "Well.. no strawberry icecream. I'll pick you some up later. But I did get something with strawberries. Frankie... the lady that runs this little bakeshop cafe, she was pushing them on me when she found out I had a special guest coming..."He got up and went to the fridge and pulled out a small white cardboard box then grabbed a fork from the drawer before seting it down in front of her and opening it up. Inside sat  two tarts with huge strawberry halves forming a pyramid; a clear syrup coated them. "They have custard and whipped cream under the berries. I picked them up for dessert tonight, but, by all means .. go ahead." he said, smiling as he took his seat again.

Saffron eyed the tarts. "Okay, now that's just...spoiling, which is completely unfair...but who am I to say no..." She replied, but she didn't move to pick up the fork just yet.

Matt laughed softly. "Well.. you can save them for dessert if you want. You'll still get them..." he said. "Want me to put them back in the fridge?" he asked lightly, his eyes sparkling.

Saffron lowered the top on the box with a slight blush. "That might be a good idea..." She replied, though she smiled slightly.

Matt laughed softly as he got up and folded the lid down on the box. On a whim he bent down to kis the top of her head as he picked up the box and put it away. "I'm glad you're here, Saff." he said softly as he plopped back into his chair. "I've really missed you. Visits and phone calls... they're fine and all... but.. it's just not enough." he added, blushing as he picked up his coffee cup.

Saffron smiled softly, making herself comfortable in the chair, leaning back, with her coffee cup. "Yus, well, I can more then agree without you there...it's been...lonely...the last five months..." She said softly.

Matt watched her as he drank his coffee, still finding himself picking out the changes in her. "The past couple weeks have been so hard... been keeping myself busy just to keep from going crazy waiting for you to get here." he said softly, dropping his gaze to his coffee. "I found a bunch of baby furniture and stuff downstairs when we were hauling everything out for the renovations... I've been working on the furniture cleaning it up and making it usuable. Figured even if you wanted something diferent, it would sell better this way.. plus.. it kept me busy which was the whole point.." he said with a bashful smirk.

"Well, some of it might be completely usable...if not all of it...which would certainly save money..." Saffron said softly, taking a sip of coffee. She sat there watching him as she drank her coffee. She still missed the longer hair. And the blue. But she didn't want to ask why he changed.

"It's not about the money. Really. It's a really nice set... especailly now that I've stripped it down to the wood and got rid of all that tacky pink and white paint Mare had covered it in.." he said with a wry smirk."We'd have to get all new bedding and stuff... Mare was apparently big in the pink and white mode. ..with bunnies.." he added, one eyebrow raised slightly. "Please tell me no bunnies."

Saffron smiled, sitting her cup down. "Well that's all and good for a girl, but I'm not having a girl...and I don't do bunnies..." She said softly.

Matt chuckled softly and reached over to take her free hand in his. "Good.. bunnies are creepy." he added deadpan.

"Hmm, yus, bunnies can be...All fluffy with big eyes...evil bastards..." Saffron replied, with a bit more of a smirk, taking a sip of coffee. "We'll just have to find something else for the bedding...something more suitable for a boy..."

"If you say cowboys I'll sue for custody." he said with a wicked smirk, his thumb rubbing lightly over her knuckles. "You can give me a hand some time to sort through the stuff in storage to decide what to get rid off... I didn't know if there was anything you'd want or not..."

"God, no, not cowboys..." Saffron replied, rolling her eyes. "Or Indians. If I have to make the bedding, then that's fine too." She added. "And the stuff can be gone through later of course."

"Of course... no hurry. And you making the bedding answers the question about the sewing machine and all her supplies... guess we'll be keeping that stuff. " he said with a smirk. He sat there for a few moments his gaze on her hand as he held it, his thumb rubbing back and forth over her knuckles. "I um... I got you something.. well.. couple somethings... I left them upstairs for you." he said softly.

Saffron sat her coffee cup down. "Really?" She replied softly, a bit surprised. "I suppose...I should take my bag up there then..." She added softly, "Not that you really had to get me anything..."

Matt blushed. "It's nothing much, just... just a .. welcome home gift,  I guess.... " he muttered softly. "I just.. I just wanted to." he added then reluctantly let go of her hand. "You want me to take you up or would you rather be alone for a bit to settle in..?"

"You can come up with me, Matt, I don't mind." Saffron replied softly. "Besides, I don't have much to unpack..." She added.

Matt stood, setting his coffee cup aside and offered her his hand. "Do you need to get someone to send your stuff? Or.. do you need to go shopping...? I guess with maternity clothes and all you'll need to shop, huh? Not a problem... "

"A little bit of shopping, yeah." Saffron answered, taking his hand, and getting up from the chair. "Going to be awfully hard to find materinity clothes in my perfered style though; may have to make those too..." She added with a slight smirk.

"Then we'll find the material and patterns for you…" he said simply, standing there holding her hand and looking down at her. He was hit by the strongest desire to kiss her... along with a fear of what might happen if he did. He drew a quick breath then before he could change his mind, kissed her softly.

Saffron was caught by surprise, but she didn't pull away. Instead she closed her eyes, a soft sigh escaping her as he kissed her, loving the feeling of his lips against hers.

Matt broke the kiss, still holding her hand in his. He swallowed hard and sighed softly. "Gods that was nice..." he said then kissed the tip of her nose playfully. "Come on.." he said, tugging gently on her hand, pulling her towards the door.

"Nice is one way of putting it, but not my choice in the matter..." Saffron replied softly with a slight smirk, before following him. She let him lead her out of the kitchen, back toward the stairs. She went to grab her bag.

Matt saw her reach for the bag and  beat her to it. "I've got it. You've got enough baggage to carry around." he said with a soft smirk and gave her belly a light pat, jokingly, then let his hand linger a moment, remembering the first time he'd felt the baby kicking. With a shy smirk he moved, heading up the stairs with her bag.

"Mmm, yus, and it's only going to increase before it's over with." She replied with a smirk, following him up the stairs. "But I'm not completely complaining...yet." She added with a bit more of a smirk

"Well.. I've tried to make it easier on you and I'll keep doing whatever I can. We used to have the laundry room downstairs and it was Mare's favorite complaint. She even got a friend of hers to draw up plans and prep for renovations for the basement as well as a litle addition off the kitchen for a new laundry room.. but never got around to it. So I did." he said as they climbed the stairs. "I hope you like it up here. If not, like I said, I can move you. I don't mind."

"A little walking up and down the stairs isn't going to kill me, Matt..." Saffron replied, following him. "Might get a little more difficult come the later months, but I'll manage. And it'll certainly be some time before we have to worry about the baby and the stairs..."

"Yeah... well once he's big enough that he can get moving around on his own, we can get one of the rooms downstairs ready for him." he said as they hit the top of the stairs and he stepped aside to let her take the lead, following behind her. "I found this rocker downstairs and cleaned it up. Thought you'd might like it. For the baby and all..." he said softly as they walked.

Saffron ran her fingers over the arm of the rocker, with a soft smile. "It's perfect...it'll come in handy..." She said softly, looking back at him with the same soft smile.

Matt blushed softly. "I'm glad you like it. I really want you to be hapy here, Saff." he added softly.

"There isn't any reason for me not to be, so far..." Saffron replied softly, before turning back to the room. That was when she noticed the roses. She moved over to where they were, blushing as she reached out to touch the one of the blossoms.

"I took a chance that you might like roses.... The mixed bouquets... they just didn't seem right for you." he said softly, setting her bag down beside the dresser.

"I like roses, Matt, I always have...I guess it's the hopeless romantic in me..." Saffron replied softly, glancing up at him, still blushing. "They're beautiful though...thank you..." She added.

"Not as beautfiul as you are." he sid softly then blushed. "The other gift is over there." he said, nodding towards the bed.

Saffron blushed more, before looking from him toward the bed, to see the zombie plushie sitting there. She hesitated a moment before moving over, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You inspired to my weakness for plushies, nice..." She said softly, before picking the plushie up.

Matt laughed softly, bluhsing even more. "Fuck.. I just saw him and thought you'd like him. Figured if you didn't, we could always give him to the kid." he leaned his hip against the dresser, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched her.

"I have a weakness for these kinds of things, cute but twisted plushies and other objects..." Saffron replied, holding the plushie with both hands and looked up at him. "Now I'll just have to come up with a name for him..."

Matt laughed softly "I'll try to remember that." he said then ducke dhis head a bit. "I should let you get settled. You don’t need me hovering over you all the time.." he said softly.

"I don't mind your hovering, Matt..." Saffron said softly, before getting off the edge of the bed. She sat the plushie on the bedside table, before moving toward him. "I've missed being around you so much, I don't especially think you're hovering..."

Matt blushed again as he looked over at her. "Well.. in case you hadn't noticed, I'm still nervous as hell. I'm getting better though." he added with a soft smirk and reached out to stroke her cheek. "Just need some time to adjust to it all..." he said, blushing more then gave a shrug. "Anyways... this is your room. I've moved all my crap out of your way and if there's anything else you'd like up here or out of here, just let me know."

"I will...thank you..." she said softly. "I hope you get over it soon enough.. .having you shy like this is a bit...unsettling..." She added, before moving to get her bag.

Matt laughed softly and ran a hand back through his hair, leaving the white strands sticking up in places. "Yeah... tell me about it. Part of its... well... you're my best friend.... youre not supposed to want to fuck your best friend.." he said, blushing furiously as he pushed himself away from the dresser to give her room to unpack. "And the rest if it.. well.. you know..." he said, his voice softer.

Saffron stopped him, her expression soft, but serious. "I know..." she said softly, touching his cheek. She looked at him a long moment, before turning to unpack. "I'll be down stairs in a few minutes..." She said softly, turning back to her bag.

Matt stood there a moment longer and watched her then sighed softly and headed for the stairs.

~~

Matt watched Saffron as they walked back across the lawn towards the patio doors. Things had gone well enough for the afternoon and evening; they'd talked a bit; he'd showed her around; he'd made a late supper and they'd had dessert and come out for a long walk through the cemetery for a tour of the grounds. Now they were done and it was late. No doubt she was tired after so much walking. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze as they walked, listening to the soft whisper of wind in the trees and the chirping of crickets.

"I can see why it's so hard to give this place up...it's peaceful." Saffron replied softly as they walked. "I like it here..." She added. She smiled softly, glancing up at Matt. "I suppose I should thank you for letting me come live here..."

He smiled softly. "You're welcome I guess... although it's my pleasure having you here. This place has been kinda empty for a while. I was ready to sell it then... I changed my mind." He smirked wickedly and laughed softly. "Actually.. Matt Hogan DID sell it. I've told you about Rosemary Turney, right? The old bat? Well... I have an inside line on her crap now... her granddaughter works at the cafe and she likes me, so she lets me know when her grandmother is up to shit. She warned me that the bat was looking into some regulation about pubilc cemeteries being bought by private owners, or some such shit, so I had my lawyer look into it when we were doing the name change deal... So we did some paperwork and made it work so she can't do shit. She can't even bitch about me owning the church anymore, because as far as everyone knows, I sold out to some company and am acting as caretaker." he said laughing softly.

"Yus, but has that really stopped her bitching?" Saffron asked softly, glancing up at him. "If it's anything to be said about old bats like that, it’s that they're determind to have the last laugh... After alll, I hear the more senile you get, the more you're out for revenge..." She added with a slight smirk. "How's she going to take to me living here? Hell, how's the rest of them going to take to me living here..."

"They'll be fine. Hell... the ones who know are dying to meet you." he said with a soft snort. "As for Rosemary... of course it won't stop her... but its SO much more fun. Remember I told Jeff the phone was under the name Cavallaro? I got my laywer to record my message for me... She keeps calling and leaving complaints about me telling 'Mr.Cavallaro' he should find a new more suitable caretaker..." he said laughing softly. "It's all I can do not to tell her that *I'm* Mr. Cavallaro just to see the look on her face..."

Saffron smirked softly. "I suppose it should make it more interesting. I'm sure she'll have her complaints about you having me here when she finds out..." Saffron said, she shook her head, amused. "Try not to have TOO much fun on her account..." She added.

"Oh gods..!" Matt said, gasping for breath between laughs. "You should've seen the look on her face the first time she saw me after I cut my hair...! She saw my ears and I SWEAR... she went white as a sheet and CROSSED herself!" he laughed. "I thought she was going to keel over right then.."

Saffron smiled more, and shook her head. "Yus, I'm sure what was going through her head was just fasinating, shocked by the slightly pointed ears...At least they're not full fae ears, Matt..." She said soflt

"Oh hell.. the full ears would've killed her for sure... but if I'd be fae enough to have the full ears, I'd have looked fae enough that she would've suspected all along... I don’t look remotely fae, so it shocked the hell out of her. I understand she stood up in church and started going on about devils in our midst and shit..." he said with a soft laugh as they reached the patio then sat down on the bench out side the door, not wanting to go in yet. "You haven't said anything about it, you know....."

"Oh that is bad...really bad...yeah, things are gonna get REAL interesting..." Saffron said with a soft laugh, before looking over at him. "What? About your hair?" She said softly, tucking a lock of her own behind her ear. "I figured it'd probably be better not to... Don't get me wrong, I miss the blue...and the longer hair, but you don't look worse for the change...just... different."

Matt snorted. "It looks like shit." he said, smirking softly. "Actually... if it were brown, I'd look even more like my grandfather... and I look enough like him as it is. I've been told that the white is even more shocking then the blue... and the short hair makes my face look... naked." he said then laughed softly.

"Well, I wouldn't say that...just... different..." Saffron said softly, stopping herself from saying familiar, because she didn't want to go there. "But then you could probably dye your hair green and I wouldn't think much of it." She added with a smirk.

Matt laughed softly and rolled his eyes. "Nah.. can't do green... I'm too big a guy.. I'd get Incredible Hulk jokes..." he said simply, leaning back and stretching his arms out along the back of the bench. "It'll grow.... Fuck, I haven't had short hair since I was... five or six..."

"And considering your half fae, it'll grow pretty fast. But it's a wonder Lex managed to find you anyway...short hair or not..." She said softly with a slight smirk, staying where she was.

"Nah... my hair doesn't grow that fast really... Well.. least it hasn't so far. If anything it grows slower.. I don’t have to get it re-bleached and dyed as often as most... of course, I've friends in low places... " he added with a chuckle. "Which reminds me, I had some of them drop by and cast some protection wards and spells around the place to help out." he said then looked up at her. "You don’t have to stay up if you don’t want to...its late..." he said then craned around to look into the kitchen. "Fuck.. it’s after one. Go on to bed if you want. I think I'm gonna sit here for a bit..."

"I'm not in a hurry to go to bed, Matt." Saffron replied, turning her head to look out over the ground. "It's nice not having a ten o'clock lights out." She replied with a bit more a smirk. "And you should know by now, I'm more of a night person...Unless..." She looked at him. "I'm making you uncomfortable..."

"Well yeah... you're just standing there." he said lightly. "You can sit down you know. I can move over if you want..."

"Well that might be a nice idea...if you can see your way through to move over...or I'll just sit on you." She replied with an amused expression.

He blushed at that and shifted over so he wasn't sitting in the middle of the bench, but left his arms stretched along the back of it. "You couldv'e just asked... or... smacked my leg and told me to shove my ass over like you used to..." he added.

Saffron snorted softly, sitting down beside. "I was happy standing for the moment, when I got tired of it, I would have let you know." She replied, with a smirk, glancing at him.

Matt blushed a bit more and wished he could stop. "Well.. the view was rather nice.. but it was getting distracting." he said with a sheepish smirk. "Plus I figurd you wouldn't be used to staying up late.. and you've spent the better part of the day walking around which you're probably not used to either..."

"Actually, walking is all I did in the place, walking and reading. It's actually a pretty big hospital..." Saffron said softly, leaning back, not bothered by his arm being there. "When I get tired, I'll let you know."

"Deal." he said softly, leaning his head back against the wall behind him and looking up at the sky. "You know... I always liked this place... always felt comfortable here... but I never really noticed until now..." he spoke softly. "It never felt like home until you got here...."

Saffron smiled softly, watching him more then anything else. "I'm glad." She said softly. "Hopefully...it'll end up feeling the same for me..." She said softly. "Well, it's starting to, really, but... you know...I've never really felt at home anywhere..."

"Me neither." he said softly. "My grandfather was the same... he travelled everywhere. I met him a few times when I was a kid... it was always so great to have him there. I asked him once when he was getting ready to leave again when he was going to come home... he just gave me this look and smiled softly and said... he didn't have a home anywhere but in his heart. So he was always home, no matter where he was. I used to wish he'd take me with him when he left." he snorted softly and sighed. "Sorry.. bit of hero worship I guess.... I look like him, always wanted to get the fuck away from my mother like he did... plus I was named after him... suppose its to be expected."

"It doesn't hurt...to have some one you looked up to as a kid...all kids need some one like that..." Saffron said softly, biting her lip a moment, "I want that for our child..."

Matt looked down at her and smiled softly. He lifted his hand to stroke through her hair as he spoke. "Me too." He smiled a bit moe. "Sounds both scary as hell.. and really good at the same time...' our child'..." he said then snorted lightly. "What name should he have? Hogan or Cavallaro?"

"I'd intended on Hogan when I decided on keeping the baby..." Saffron said softly with a slight smile. "I don't know, that's just...what I perfer..." She added, looking up at him.

Matt smirked softly. "Yeah... me too. Even my mother called me that. She only put Cavallaro on my birth certificate because she had no legal right to use my grandfathers name since it wasn't her own... so she named me Mattias Garfield Hogan Cavallaro.. then never used the Cavallaro... Fuck I didn't even KNOW about it until Mare helped me track down my birthcertificate and shit... So now I have two perfectly legal names...But I'm still Matt Hogan... Matt Cavalaro is only on paper to piss of Rosemary and throw your family off track..."

"Well… Hogan it is...now I just have to decide on a first name..." Saffron said, with a slight smirk, she turned enough on the bench that she ended up leaning against him.

Matt let his fingers stroke through her hair a couple more times before lowering his arm around her. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall again, trying not to think too much about things and just enjoy how wonderful and right it felt. "Nothing boring. Nothing 'normal. And nothing fucked up weird..." he said simply.

"Oh, you mean like Saffron?" She replied with an amused tone. "Or Mattias..." She added, biting back the laugh. "Actually, I had a name in mind, I suppose I have for years...just something I like..."

Mat smirked softly. "Exactly... and no Johns or Bob's either... or Steve's..." he sighed softly, rubbing his hand over her arm. "So tell me... what name do you have in mind?"

"Well for your information, the plushie's name is Steve." She said, crossing her arms over her chest but smirk, staying leaning back against him, enjoying it. "As the name I had in mind...Caleb..."

Matt smirked at her naming the doll but didnt say anything about it. "Caleb.." he repeated softly, looking up at the stars that were visible. "Caleb.... Caleb Hogan...." he smiled softly. “Yeah... I like that... thats a good name.."

"It does sound like a very nice name, doesn't it..." Saffron said softly, comfortable. She thought about the idea of that woman still out there, trying to get to her...and the baby, but she refused to give into the thought that she would... "When they told me I was pregnant...some how...I wasn't mad...everyone else was...except Lex...I guess that's why they thought I was crazy..."

Matt didn't say anything, just held her a bit closer and kissed the top of her head before leaning his head back again. He was feeling very comforatble, the most he'd been around her in ages. Maybe it was just that they'd spent the day together getting used to each other all over again, or maybe it was him getting used to things... or maybe it was just the way it was supposed to be...

Saffron fell quiet, and was quiet for a long time; though that had to do with the fact that she'd slowly fallen asleep. Leaning back against him, comfortable for once in a good while, and after such a long day, she'd fallen asleep.

Matt didn't know how long he sat there holding her and stroking her hair before he realized she was alseep, and when he did, he just smiled softly and stayed where he was for a bit longer. When he noticed it getting damp out he sighed and carefully eased her away so he could stand up, then lifted her into his arms. For a moment he had a flash back to his carrying Safron, naked and wrapped in a blanket and he closed his eyes, forcing the memory away as he carried her inside and up to bed.

Saffron sighed softly, and shifted in his arms, curling up against him as he carried her. She was content, wanting to stay like this, even in sleep.

Matt shifted her carefully to balance her in one arm as she leaned into him so he could pull back the blankets carefully, then lay her down. Doing his best to be quiet and keep his breathing steady, he pulled off her sandals, then pulled the blanket over her.With a soft sigh and slight smile, Matt leaned down to kiss her forehead softly. "Sweet dreams angel." he whispered.

Saffron shifted in the bed slightly, before smiling softly in her sleep, in reply to Matt. She sighed contentedly, curling up slightly.

~~